Did you start in LTC and leave?

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Preface with my currently working in LTC but interviewing for another job in another specialty (that I wanted to get into since before I went to nursing school).

I LOVE my job. I work 11-7, 32 hours a week, at a local long term care/assisted living/retirement community. Our staff is filled with excellent nurses who have been here for 10+, 20+, 30 years. I have a lot of autonomy working the night shift but also have a lot of support from the nurses around me. It has actually been a great experience to be trained without having that whole "nurses eating their young" thing.

When I left nursing school, I wanted to start in LTC to hone my assessment skills and develop a feel for who I was as a nurse. I have enjoyed almost every minute of it. But when I took this job, I knew that I would always be hopeful to one day be in more of a community health position.

Well, now I may have that opportunity.

My question is this: To those of you who started in LTC and went on to other fields of nursing, what did you miss? Was it worth it? Would you ever return?

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Home Health.

I started in LTC and loved every second. I left after a year and a half due to needing to get my son on the bus when he started kindergarten, and took a home health position with more flexible hours. I love the clients I have now and my flexible schedule, but I'm SO BORED! Most days I just sit there reading while they study for classes until they need something (after I do my initial procedures and paperwork, which take all of 15 minutes) I miss being busy and feeling productive at the end of my day. I hope to get back into LTC when my youngest son is in kindergarten (there is an age gap and he will be old enough to help him onto the bus) I do miss LTC terribly.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I started in LTC in 2006 and left in 2012, so I was a nurse in that industry for a total of six years. Yes, it was worth it. LTC nursing has been the foundation of my entire nursing career and I learned a fund of knowledge that cannot be taken from me.

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I started in LTC and loved every second. I left after a year and a half due to needing to get my son on the bus when he started kindergarten, and took a home health position with more flexible hours. I love the clients I have now and my flexible schedule, but I'm SO BORED! Most days I just sit there reading while they study for classes until they need something (after I do my initial procedures and paperwork, which take all of 15 minutes) I miss being busy and feeling productive at the end of my day. I hope to get back into LTC when my youngest son is in kindergarten (there is an age gap and he will be old enough to help him onto the bus) I do miss LTC terribly.

Thanks for your reply! I worry about being bored in a home health situation, as well! I really do enjoy my current position. I thought I might be leaving it, but I won't be after all. I'm not too disappointed. I think geriatrics is a great field. You definitely learn to assess changes over time, and I work with great people. :yes:

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I started in LTC in 2006 and left in 2012, so I was a nurse in that industry for a total of six years. Yes, it was worth it. LTC nursing has been the foundation of my entire nursing career and I learned a fund of knowledge that cannot be taken from me.

I feel the same, I am gaining great knowledge for wherever I go in the future. I went straight into geriatrics after nursing school because I felt like I should be focused on solidifying my skills of assessment and communication. Working in LTC definitely helps me do that. Hopefully it will translate well to wherever I find myself in the future!

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